A Dream of a Meal or Linguine at the Beach....

What a dream..the sea will do that to you and a visit to the local seafood market.. had to wake up early and begin working on this recipe before my day started..Fresh fish, delicious pasta, some local produce and what a dish!!



Dinner will be great, I thought to myself..not that dinner in our seaside home has ever been less than that. A mad rush through our wine cabinet and there is was a bottle of a locally produced Pecorino wine-made in the town of Offida in the province of Le Marche (only about 45 minutes from us) .'this will be great to use as an ingredient in the dish..”



Okay, so one of the most important ingredients found..now what should the dish be...



But wait time to wake up for the morning cappu and cornetto....it's 6:30 am and I know my better half will insist we go now or we won't have a selection of cornetti to choose from. The coffee bar makes their own production of cornetti., so there are not that many of each type..there are the ones filled with chocolate cream, the nones with apricot marmelade ,then plain with nothing inside, integrale with miele (whole wheat with honey), mandorlata (topped with thinly slivered almonds and a bit buttery ( I remember these on our trip to the South of France where they are very buttery as per French cuisine).

Anyway my favorite is the whole wheat with honey, his is the mandorlata...but get there past 8 AM and those are all gone...



Throw on something for another hot sunny day. It is almost like a gamble when you arrive at the cofee bar, the first thing you do is step up to the front counter to see if you can find your favorite cornetti..when found ..you stop for a minute and smile from ear to ear..knowing that today you will be able to begin your day your favorite way.... that light, flaky morsel complements the cappuccino to make for the perfect jolt to start your day..

When you arrive you feel listless..but when you leave eveything looks rosy and the day begins to have a meaning and now you are ready to start..



And I was ready...next stop..the loical fresh fish market..morning is best time to get there and get the freshest pick...and there I found what would be tonight's dish..the small tiny clams that make llinguine alla vongole a hit...as well as other fresh fish fro a grilled seafood entree (our second course).



Find my recipe for linguine alla vongole at the beach here

Fourth of July and Happy Birthday USA

Written by :Eliza Chute


If you find yourself in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the USA this summer or for a fitting Fourth of July Holiday here is a 'delicious' place to visit:


You can find everything you need at Reading Terminal Market. It is quite the melting pot of delicious food. You can find everything from crepes to soul food, vegetarian restaurants to meat by the pound. This indoor market takes up an entire city block.
There is even the unique opportunity of getting freshly grown Pennsylvania Dutch made foods. There are eleven Pennsylvania Dutch owned shops. If you are craving chocolate, Chocolate by Mueller is the place to. All chocolates are hand-made on site. They even have a display kitchen, so you can watch them make their chocolates, as your mouth waters in front of the window. Looking for something a little more nutritious? Try the Dutch Eating Place. They serve breakfast and lunch, including their famous blueberry pancakes and apple dumplings. These delicious pancakes are fluffy and served by Pennsylvania Dutch in full garb, making it a tasty and fun experience. Or try Hatville Deli for some great deli food. However, don’t forget to bring cash, because the last two only accept cash and gift certificates.

For more Information on Reading Terminal Market
http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/about/


List of Pennsylvania Dutch Shoppes
AJ Pickel Patch & Salads
Beiler's Bakery
Dienner's Bar-B-Q
Dutch Eating Place
Hatville Deli
Kauffman's Lancaster County Produce
L. Halteman Family
Lancaster Co. Dairy
Miller's Twist
Rib Stand
Sweet as Fudge Candy Shoppe

For more recipes for the 4th

Are You a Coffee or Tea Person?

Written by :Eliza Chute

There is an age old question, and the answer is usually based on preference. Are you a coffee person or a tea person? But which one is better for you? People love having pearly white teeth. That is why there is a multi-million dollar industry dedicated to teeth whitening, and brushing making sure those pearly whites stay white. Coffee and Tea can stain teeth but does one do it more than the other ? Although it isn’t scientific research, I scoured the internet for answers, because I didn’t have two friends with the exact same whiteness who were willing to sacrifice their teeth for science. Though there were no official press releases from the American Dental Association, the general consensus of the web-sites I looked at, was that tea stains teeth more, more specifically dark tea. I mean just look at your mug after you drink either of them and the tea cup will be stained more. Thus, one point for coffee.
The question I really thought I would be answering was: which is worse for you; coffee or tea. For years people have been talking about the downfalls of the two. That both are really bad for you, but recent studies have shown that there are actually health benefits to both. An article in ABC news that came out in 2006 reveals that there are benefits to both the drinks, more than just the extra boos of alertness. Apparently anti-oxidants in tea and coffee “can prevent inflammation of the blood vessels, and it has been linked to reduced risk for cancer.” In terms of what has the most, the list, in order, goes white tea, green tea, black tea then coffee. So, a point for tea. In addition, “Daily cups of coffee have been linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease, liver cancer, gallstones and type 2 diabetes. In addition, green tea and white tea have been touted for their health benefits”. However, they do not recommend more than four eight ounce cups a day.
At the end of the day, most people choose their drinks based on the taste. I personally choose chocolaty coffee drinks, even though I know that that is one of the worst things for me. And even though I know it is bad for me, I always think, “just this once,” but when “just this once” starts to become every day, I’m going to need to make a change.


For more information on the benefits of coffee and tea:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Diet/story?id=2123324


July 9th- Whole Foods Market, Jenkintown, Pa The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School and The Outdoor Kitchen, recipes perfect for the picnic, the beach and dining al fresco.. Call store at 215-481-0800 to register or email: events@marialiberati.com

July 16th, Whole Foods Annapolis Maryland
http://www.prlog.org/10256011-celebrity-chef-maria-liberati-cooks-for-the-crowd-at-new-whole-foods-market-culinary-center.html
July 18th- Whole Foods Fairfax/ Fair Lakes, Virginia
http://cuisinewire.org/10256021/maria-liberati-cooking-demonstration-and-wine-pairing-at-whole-foods-market-fairfaxfair-lakes.html
July 31-August 2-Atlantic City food and wine festival
http://www.prlog.org/10264998-celebrity-chef-maria-liberati-emeril-lagasse-guy-fieri-at-atlantic-city-food-and-wine-festival.html

Get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/Marialiberati

A Place for Foodies in Philadelphia

Written by: Eliza Chute


If you are looking for an interesting food experience in the USA... you can find everything you need at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pa. It is quite the melting pot of delicious food. You can find everything from crepes to soul food, vegetarian restaurants to meat by the pound. This indoor market takes up an entire city block.
There is even the unique opportunity of getting freshly grown Pennsylvania Dutch made foods. There are eleven Pennsylvania Dutch owned shops. If you are craving chocolate, Chocolate by Mueller is the place to. All chocolates are hand-made on site. They even have a display kitchen, so you can watch them make their chocolates, as your mouth waters in front of the window. Looking for something a little more nutritious? Try the Dutch Eating Place. They serve breakfast and lunch, including their famous blueberry pancakes and apple dumplings. These delicious pancakes are fluffy and served by Pennsylvania Dutch in full garb, making it a tasty and fun experience. Or try Hatville Deli for some great deli food. However, don’t forget to bring cash, because the last two only accept cash and gift certificates.

For more Information on Reading Terminal Market
http://www.readingterminalmarket.org/about/List of Pennsylvania Dutch Shoppes
AJ Pickel Patch & Salads
Beiler's Bakery
Dienner's Bar-B-Q
Dutch Eating Place
Hatville Deli
Kauffman's Lancaster County Produce
L. Halteman Family
Lancaster Co. Dairy
Miller's Twist
Rib Stand
Sweet as Fudge Candy Shoppe

For more info and recipes go to http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2

Summer Cocktails

Written by: Eliza Chute

In the summer, when it’s hot and humid (when you are in the northeast at least), nothing makes you feel better than a nice cold beverage or perhaps a cocktail. Lemonade has always been the classic summer beverage, but if you are tired of the same old summer drink, there are several variations on it to spice it up a bit. At allrecipes.com you can find a multitude of variations on the classic lemonade; from Rico’s Passionate Pink Honey Lemonade, to Pepper-Mint Lemonade. For the more calorie conscious lemonade drinker, I would recommend Vitamin Water Multi-V lemonade. It’s a refreshing, but a little less sweet alternative.
If you are looking for a thicker drink, smoothies are always the way to go, and they are fairly simple to make. Just add ice, yogurt, juice and fruit to your blender and it’s like you just came back from your local smoothie place. For an extra kick, try blending coffee, ice and banana, and some vanilla yogurt, for that morning wake-up or mid-day refresher.
In the quest for a new refreshing summer cocktail, I went and bought a variety of juices. After several hours in the lab (i.e. my kitchen), I finally came up with one. I haven’t picked out the perfect name yet, but to make the drink, you fill a cup one eighth raspberry vodka (if you have a smaller budget Burnett’s works well or if you could splurge on Smirnoff), then three quarters with cran-apple juice and fill the rest up with champagne. It’s a newer, stronger, more dynamically flavored take on an old favorite: the mimosa. Another less complicated, but delicious concoction I created, though less original, was vanilla rum and V8 splash tropical blend. However, I don’t recommend making a lot of it, the sweetness of it makes it difficult to drink more than a glass.

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Summer-Sips-Refreshing-Summer-Drinks/Detail.aspx

The State of Coffee

Written/Edited by Eliza Chute

I do not claim to be a coffee connoisseur, in fact I am far from it. As a few of my friends put it, I don’t drink coffee, I drink caffeinated sugar milk. Because of this fact I tend to judge a coffee shop by its mocha. The mocha drink of Blue State Coffee on Thayer street, though a little more coffee and a little less sugary than I normally prefer, was quite delicious. However, Blue State coffee has a greater appeal than simply the taste of their coffee. Not only is the coffee both organically grown and fair traded, but after you buy it you are given a voting tablet, where you can then vote for which charity you would like them to donate 5% of their profits to. After purchasing my mocha I took my tab and put it into the Marriage Equality of RI slot, before tasting my drink and deciding not to add an extra packet of sugar.
Blue State Coffee was started by lawyer Marshall Ruben and his son, Drew. These men are on a mission, a mission which is four-pronged. First of all, they deal with only fair trade, organic coffee, and as they put it, “roasted to perfection”. Secondly, they donate 5% of profits that reflect their “progressive values”, some of those in Rhode Island include, Youth in Action, Southside Community Land Trust, RI family life center, and the previously mentioned Marriage Equality RI. According to their web-site they have already donated 78,000 dollars to various causes. If that isn’t noble enough, they also make an effort to “run a zero waste, environmentally sustainable business.” They take various measures to do this, from discounts for people who bring their own mug to their Providence location being completely powered by wind power. O yea, and they are also trying to bring everyone dedicated to bettering the country together through their shops. They say coffee is an acquired taste, one I have yet to acquire, but this is something I can definitely see myself getting used to.

All quotes taken from Blue State website http://www.bluestatecoffee.com/

Get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at www.marialiberati.com

Join Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati on June 15th at Willingboro Library for a book signing and cooking program. Free and open to the public call llibrary for info or email events@marialiberati.com

June 13th- Saturday- 5PM hear Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati 's latest interview on Chicago's Restaurant Radio show on AM 560 WIND or listen to it online from anywhere in the world at www.restaurantradio.tv

Summer's Here-Eat Healthy Tuscan style

Now that summer is officially here and fresh veggies are aplenty, here is a health yand delicious recipe, easy too. A great way to eat healthy and delicious, it also uses the Tuscan Picnic spice product I developed in Tuscany, it has been sold in limited markets in the US but has developed quite a following..will soon be in your local market.

Vegetable Ragu-Tuscan style

*6 medium eggplants
*1 red onion
*2 carrots
*3 potatoes
*4 ounces fresh string beans
*4 red ripe tomatoes
*1-2 tsps Tuscan Picnic
*4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Clean and cut all vegetables into chunks, except for string beans. Clean and cut string beans in half.
Place olive oil in bottom of large soup pot with a clove of garlic. Heat for 1 minute, then place in vegetables and Tuscan picnic. Stir. Pour in 1 cup water. Cover. Cook mixture for 45 minutes, uncover every 10-15m inutes, stir and pour in more liquid if necessary. This can also be cooked in crock pot.
This can be served as a Vegetarian second course or as a side dish.


Hope to see you on June 4th at Foster's Gourmet store in Philadelphia for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Tuscan Picnic class. Email events@marialiberati.com to register or for more info.

ALso I wil be onstage at the Horsham Days event in Deep Meadow Park in Horsham PA. Look forward to seeing you all. Email events@marialiberati.com for info

Get your copy of the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Join me in Italy

For more recipes and articles


Maria
http://twitter.com/marilaiberati

Raspberries Everywhere & National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month ..a month to remind us to eat more fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains ,nuts, legumes and delicious, nutritious foods.
The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Kitchen was filled with the scent of the recipe below..thanks to the folks at Driscoll's and their delicious fresh raspberries. The recipe is courtesy of Driscoll's..tried and tasted here...and delizioso!!
Raspberries are an excellent source of antioxidants..so eat them plain or in this recipe but any way you can enjoy them..do so!



Raspberry ­ Orange Muffins
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 20 Minutes
Cool Time: 5 minutes
Makes: 10 Muffins

1 6 ounce package Driscoll¹s Raspberries
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
2-3 teaspoons grated orange zest (about 1 orange)
1/4 cup orange juice
1 large egg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Line a muffin tin with 10 paper liners or coat with cooking spray.
Rinse and drain berries. Pat dry with paper towel.
Stir together flour, baking powder and baking soda in a small bowl.
Combine sour cream, brown sugar, oil, zest, juice and egg in a large bowl.
Stir in flour until partially moistened. Add raspberries and stir in gently
until evenly mixed. Do not over-stir.
Divide batter evenly between muffin cups, filling each about 3Ž4 full.
Bake 20 minutes until golden brown and toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool in pan 5 minutes.
Serve warm or remove and place on wire rack to cool completely.

Lighten Up this recipe by replacing the sour cream with the equivalent
amount of fat free sour cream or plain low fat yogurt.

For more recipes and articles

April 4 at 11:30- Whole Foods Market, Jenkintown, Pa-Join me for a book signing and Cooking on A Budget with The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Class. Email events@marialiberati.com or call the store at 215-481-0800 to reserve your spot.

Join me Sept 23-Oct 6th at
The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati Cooking School in Italy.. Experience Italy!! Is 6 nights and 7 days that you will never forget..Filled not only with cooking classes ,but tours to local vineyards, wine tastings, oilve oil tastings, nature walks, a stay at the Villa that houses the school and more. Register with deposit by May 1st and receive $200 off full price. Email us at events@marialiberati.com

Delicious Wonders of Sicily..

Sicily is famous for many things but the two most delicious things ( In my opinion) are the blood oranges and the cannoli (more on the cannoli later)...

If you have never tasted a blood red orange from Sicily you are really missing out on one of life's wonders. They are worth a trip to Italy just to taste them or savor freshly squeezed juice..nothing like it...it is like eating orange candy..so sweet..and now is the season..

I remember the first few times I had breakfast in a coffee bar here and began seeing the barristas squeezing thes oranges for fresh orange juice during the seaason. I decided to try a 'spremuta' (fresh juice) myself one day and became hooked. When assembling The Basic Art of Italian Cooking Kitchen here in Italy-that was one of our first appliances- a stainless steel orange juice squeezer..so that we could use the fresh juice in many recipes.

Everyone seems to be praising them and their virtues...

Here is a recipe to try, if you can't get the blood oranges of Sicily- navel oranges should do.. (certainly won't be the same but can be an acceptable substitute)

Braised lettuce with Oranges
For 4 people

1 head of romaine lettuce (1 pound)

1 can of chick peas

1 tblsp of extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves of garlic

pinch of red hot pepper

4 fresh oranges

fresh coriander

salt and pepper to taste

Peel oranges and cut or break into sections or slices. Keep the juice that comes out of the oranges while cutting, in a glass.

Wash ,dry and chop the lettuce. Place 1/2 tblsp olive oil in saute pan, heat, place in chopped lettuce, pinch of salt, 2 cloves of garlic and pinch of hot red pepper. Place chick peas in food processor with 1 tsp of olive oil, pinch of salt ,reserved orange juice and blend into a cream. Place cream on a flat dish.

Top with braised lettuce and top with orange slices, coriander leaves, drizzle with remaining olive oil adn a pinch of freshly ground black pepper.

Do you have any favorite recipes or foods from Sicily you can share with us..we'd love to hear...

For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Also follow me for more food stories and recipes on http://marialiberati.blogster.com

http://twitter.com/marialiberati

Here is a recipe for a lower calorie verison of the cannoli
http://notecook.com/desserts/pastries/making-italian-cannoli-lower-calorie-
version/#comment-8901

Join me on March 12th at 6-8 PM at the Harleysville Book Shop, 674 Main St, Harleysville, Pa for a special Welcoming Spring Book Signing of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking and a cooking demo. Free and open to the public. For more events go to :
http://www.marialiberati.com/appearances.php

Cooking on A Budget & Using Leftovers

Taking a cue from the 'peasant kitchen' or 'cucina povere' of long ago in Italy, there are many delicious authentic Italian recipes that allow you to creatively use leftovers.
Authentic Italian cooking can be done on a budget- 'quality not quantity'. A good quality product that may cost a little more may end up costing less than a lesser quality product. You will only need to use a little of a high quality product and a lot of a lesser quality one..

Day old bread can be transformed into many yummy delights

Join me Sept 23- October 6th for The Basic Art of Italian Cooking school in Umbria Italy. Stay at the villa, enjoy life sightsee, hands on cooking classes ,wine pairings, vineyard tours and more. (all inclusive (does not include airplane ticket) includes all meals, transport from airport to villa and back, hands on cooking classes, local wines with meals, excursions, vineyard tours, 6 night/7day lodging at villa. Limited to 12 participants. Find more info

More articles and
recipes

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,
Maria
http://www.marialiberati.com

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking School in Italy.

I always say that cooking from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking is wonderful but when you cook in Italy you experience the recipes..Join me at the villa that houses the cooking school. Experience Italy for 7 days/6 nights at the villa with hands on cooking classes, vineyard tours, special sightseeing and La Dolce vita while relaxing at your choice of the villa or luxury suites at the Sismano Castle. We are only taking 12 participants with us! This program will be held Sept 23- Oct 6th so hurry and reserve your spot..



http://marialiberati.com/blog2/?page_id=542

Cooking is All About the Basics

http://www.nj.com/homegarden/entertaining/index.ssf/2009/02/the_parsimonious_pantry_top_ch.html

Italian Food in the Movies

My favorite two subjects. I will be speaking on these two subjects today. Just think of it ..Food at an Italian family household is.....well something that can't be described unless you are part of an Italian family..how the food is the star of the household meal.
So if you aren't part of an Italian family or have never eaten at a large Italian family gathering..best alternative is to go to the movies...a film that prtrays an Italian or an Italian American family will almost always havea scene that incldues food as the star..
Here is part of my speech on Italian Food & the Cinema..
http://tinyurl.com/c4mbrx
Enjoy..
Join me at Whole Foods Markets Feb 18th- Marlton, NJ and Feb 19th at Philadelphia,Feb 26th, Princeton, NJ for a book signing and The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school classes. Call Sue at 215-660-5045 to register or email events@marialiberati.com

And if you would really like to Experience Italy join me at the villa where The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking School is. We only open up the villa a few tiems a year for gusets. And you can enjoy the next with me..Sept 23-Oct 6th, includes 6 nights 7days stay at the villa, cooking classes, Local vineyard tours, local food producers, sightseeing and La Dolce Vita lounging around at the villa in the hills of Umbria. For more info email us at events@marialiberati.com
Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene
Maria

Orvieto Classico-Wine of Popes & Princes

copyright 2009, Maria Liberati
I am always blogging about this wine..Orvieto Classico. Besides being fresh and crisp it reminds me of Orvieto and its' magnificent Cathedral. I can just stand in front of it outside and admire it for hours..such a work of art and the wine Orvieto Classico is a work of art..
Read more about Orvieto Classico at http://vinovidivici.today.com
Copyright, 2009, Maria Liberati, The Basic Art of Italian Cooking
http://www.marialiberati.com

Umbria, “the great heart of Italy”, is known for its white wine, especially its crown jewel, orvieto. This area accounts for 15% of Italy’s wine production (80% of which is white) even though it is the 4th smallest region in this country. White it only produces one third the amount of Tuscany, the results are nothing to scoff at.

Orvieto, “wine of the popes”, has a history as rich as its flavor. Popes, princes, and artists visiting from Rome and Florence, two of its neighboring cities, once sipped this abboccato, or semi-sweet wine. The medieval city of Perugia makes up the hills that surround the Umbrian capital city of Orvieto. The rolling hills of these medieval villages, with their tufa limestone and volcanic soil, along with the rainy climate with dry, sun-filled summers, contribute to the success of Orvieto’s grapes.

From the popes of the Middles Ages to more modern Italians of the 20th century, Orvieto has been the token dessert wine. This soft golden wine has formed its sweet nectar by having the grape skins stay in contact with the juice for a while before fermentation; lower grape yields; and of course more meticulous selection. Grapes were often stored in crates, barrels, or humid grottoes for long periods of time after the harvest, which was unlike many other wines.

Today’s crisp, peachy orvieto is dry but semi-sweet, referred to as orvieto abboccato. This has made a comeback as a dessert wine, although small amounts (less than 5%) of dolce (sweet) are produced in this region as well. This deep golden wine, nicknamed by Gabriele d’ Annunzio ( a famous Italian writer) as “the sun of Italy in a bottle”, is a full, mellow, slightly bitter drink best drunk in the year produced. Orvieto abboccato is best paired with liver, cheeses, spicy foods, and fruit salads. In case there aren’t enough reasons to drink it, it has also recently been discovered that the anthocyanins that this wine is comprised of have great antioxidant properties. A glass a day…

For more on wines and great recipes to go with them get your copy of the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com and chek out more at http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2

Buona San Valentino..

Happy San Valentino! Keep the spirit of this day alive by celebrating love..for everyone..
If you'd like to make a special dinner,here is my suggestion for a luscious seafood risotto with Orvieto classico
http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2
For a simple dessert-a scoop of chocolate or vanilla gelato or ice cream in a glass of champagne or Spumante..
See Valentine's Day around the world

Dark chocolate..(not milk chocolate)with at least 70% cocoa gives you the healthy benefits of eating chocolate -a delicious aphrodisiac.

Keep the dinner Simple & Sweet!!
Join me for two The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking school events at Whole Foods in Marlton, NJ on February 18th at 6 PM for a class on pasta nd their sauces and a book signing and/or Whole Foods in Philadelphia on February 19th at 6 PM for a book signing and cooking class on 'Cooking on A Budget" the Basic Art of Italian Cooking way..

If you'd like to hone your cooking skills in Italy stay at our villa in Umbria for 7 days, cook with me, visit local vineyards, artisan producing food purveyors, sightsee, and enjoy La Dolce Vita in the hills of Umbria! For more info email us at :
events@marialiberati.com to register or for more info.Dates are Sept 23-Oct 6th.Only 12 spots are available so hurry and reserve your place!!

Gelato..oohh soo cold

Yes it is still winter and cold temps almost everywhere but what could be more delicious than a scoop of gelato. And more of an experience if you can have your scoop at one of the elegant coffee bars in the center of Rome,Italy...
Hers is a luscious way to combine the flavor of coffee in gelato and for more on gelato go to http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2

Gelato Al Caffe
*2 cups cream
*2 cups coffee
*3/4 cup sugar
*pinch of salt

Place in a saucepan the cream, coffee and salt. Place over low heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat when it begins to boil.Add in sugar and let dissolve and mix in well.
Place mixture in the refrigerator. When cool place in ice cream or gelato maker and follow instructions.

Join me at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school in Italy Sept 26th -October 3rd. Enjoy La Dolce Vita at the villa or the castle..
Enjoy 4 cooking classes, tours to local wineries and olive groves,sightseing and more all while relaxing at the villa or luxury suites at a nearby castle. For mroe info email us at events@marialiberati.com
For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com
Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,
Maria

Passionate Red...

The color of Love -Red- is a must for any Valentine's Dinner Table. For a romantic dinner the color red...always wins! Red tinted glass, red handles on silverware,red place settings..and don't forget the red wine and red candles....

For more on wines of Venice: http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2

Join Me Sunday, Feb 8th, 2 PM at the Whole Foods in Jenkintown,Pa for a book signing and Valentine's Day dinner cooking class. To register call the store at 215-481-0707 or email us at events@marialiberati.com

For your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking go to http://www.marialiberati.com

Creamy Hot Cioccolata for a Valentine..

Evidence that chocolate existed over 1,000 yrs ago in what is now the United States has been found. Considered an aphrodisiac it is the sweet of choice for many for Valentine's Day.
Go to http://www.marialiberati.com/blog2 and
http://marialiberati.blogster.com for more on Valentine's Day...
Here is a sweet chocolate recipe to keep you and your sweet one warm and snuggling on Valentine's Day..
Creamy Hot Chocolate
*8 ounces dark, unsweetened chocolate
*1 1/2 cup cream or non fat non-dairy creamer
*1 cup milk
Place chocolate pieves in top of double boiler and melt, remove from heat. Place milk and cream over low heat and bring to a slow boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Drizzle melted chocolate on top and whisk in with a wire whisk. Serve hot in warmed cups immediately!

Join me this Sunday at Whole Foods Market in Jenkintown, Pa for a book signing and cooking class. The cooking class will be a 4 course authentic Italian style Valentine's Day dinner taken from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking school in Italy.
Regsitration is limited. To register email events@marialiberati.com

Or join us in Italy at The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school for a walk of cooking classes, touring local vineyards and olive oil mills and sightseeing and living La Dolce Vita in the villa. Places limited to a group of 12 only. For more info email us at events@marialiberati.com

For more great recipes get your copy of the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Always be Ready..to Open a Bottle of Wine in Orvieto..

One of my favorite winebars is in Orvieto (region of Umbria)-La Champagneria. You will find this in Piazza Marconi (principal piazza in Orvieto). Ask for GianLuca and Velia. GianLuca is very knowledgeable about wines and liqueurs from all over the world and the antipasti that Velia whips up to go with the drinks are heavenly. Grab a table outside under the stars (if not too cold out) and you will have a splendid view of the whole piazza. If you are not knowledgeable about wines, tell Gian Luca the taste you are looking for and he will make a perfect choice and tell you all about your beverage. Gian Luca is a true artist and is so passionate about being a sommelier that he told us that he always carries something that can open a bottle of wine in his backpocket- Gian Luca told me "you neer know when you will have the opporutnity to experience a great bottle of wine or champagne and you must always be ready. I even have one on my nightstand in my bedroom." A true artist..kind of like Stradivarius who used to sleep with is violin..
This is one of our stops for our The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm Cooking Shcool in Italy coming in fall 2009. email us at events@marialiberati.com fpr more info and to register..it will be an experience to remember..
Cooking School Dates:
The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm COoking School will be presenting a class on preparing a 4 course authentic Valentine's Day Italian dinner at Whole Foods Market in Jenkintown, Pa on Feb 8th at 2 PM. Join me for the class and a book signing before class. To register email us at events@marialiberati.com


The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school in Italy will take place Sept 13-19th at Borgo Fontanile in Orvieto Italy. Join us for week of cooking classes with organic fresh produce from the farm, vineyard tours ,wine tastings, To register or for more info email us at events@marialiberati.com

For more great recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Perugia,Italy..a Sweet City....

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school held in a beautiful resort near Orvieto Italy..recently took some of our participants on a tour of the medieval city of Perugia..the city well known for it's chocolate and many other treats. Follow our visit to Perugia here:

http://www.gomestic.com/Cooking/Perugia-Italy-and-Its-Sweet-Treats.126185

and here is a recipe of one of their traditional sweet treats:

Ciarimicola
Ingredients:

1 lb flour
3 egg yolk
½ cup butter
1 cup sugar
Lemon peel of ½ lemon
2 egg whites
¼ cup alchermes liqueur
1 packet yeast
Multi colored sprinkles
Grate lemon peel. Place flour, sugar. ¼ cup softened butter, lemon peel. Blend well. Add in alchermes and blend in. Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of warm water, add into dough. Blend into a smooth dough.

Form the dough into a ring. Place on a pan that has been buttered an dusted with flour. Bake for 40 minutes. Beat egg whites into stiff peaks. Remove ring from oven. Place whipped egg whites on top. Bake for another 2 minutes. Remove from oven, cool and sprinkle with colored sprinkles.

Don't forget to follow ouradventures in The Basic Art of Italian Cooking kitchen here in Italy at httpp://www.marialiberati.com/blog2
and http://twitter.com/marialiberati


For more great recipes get your copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at http://www.marialiberati.com

Join our cooking classes in Italy or in the US. To register or get more info email us at events@marialiberati.com
Here is more info
In the US-The Basic Art of Italian Cooking by Maria Liberati tm cooking school will be at various Whole Foods Markets in the US starting in February:
Feb 8-Jenkintown, Pa Whole Foods Markets
Feb 18-Whole Foods Market, Marlton, NJ
Feb 19=Whole Foods Markets, Philadelphia,Pa
Feb 26-Whole foods Markets, Princeton, NJ

Mangia Bene,Vivi Bene
Maria